Shoulder Replacement and Shoulder Replacement Surgery

This page will tell you more about Shoulder Replacements and Shoulder Replacement Surgery at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust – a renowned Centre of Excellence for Orthopaedic Surgery.

Your shoulder is a ball and socket joint and can wear over time, requiring replacement surgery to change or repair it

Shoulder replacement surgery is an effective way to reduce the pain and the debilitating effects of worn or damaged shoulder joints

An artificial shoulder tends to last at least 10 years

Why Shoulder Replacement Surgery?

Shoulder replacement surgery is effective treatment for a shoulder joint that can no longer function adequately or painlessly.

The most common causes of pain and reduced mobility are:

Osteoarthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Fracture

Avascular Necrosis (temporary or permanent loss of blood supply to the bone)

How is it performed?

In shoulder replacement surgery, performed under general or local anaesthetic

The top of your upper arm bone is removed

The prosthetic ball on a stem is then fixed into place with medical glue

The surface of the socket is prepared, and any worn or damaged bone removed